Paris Peace Accords 23 Oct. 1991

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

The wolf snake that eluded scientists for a decade: New species is discovered in Cambodian mountain range

The wolf snake that eluded scientists for a decade: New species is discovered in Cambodian mountain range

  • The 'Lycodon zoosvictoriae' snake was found in the Cardamom Mountains
  • Wolf snakes gained their name because of their powerful and jagged fangs
  • The new species has light brown skin with unique darker brown markings
  • Scientists believe its unusual colours have helped the creature remain hidden, despite ongoing research efforts to find new species in the area
The Daily Mail (UK) |

The dense forests of Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains are home to countless strange and wonderful creatures. 

The latest to be discovered is a new species of wolf snake, so-called because of its powerful, backwards-facing fangs. 

Named Lycodon zoosvictoriae, scientists believe the snake's unusual colours have helped it remain hidden, despite a decade-long research effort to find new species in the area.

The 'Lycodon zoosvictoriae' snake was found in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia. Scientists believe its unusual colours have helped the slippery creature remain hidden, despite a decade-long research effort to find new species in the area
The 'Lycodon zoosvictoriae' snake was found in the Cardamom Mountains of Cambodia. Scientists believe its unusual colours have helped the slippery creature remain hidden, despite a decade-long research effort to find new species in the area

THE WOLF SNAKE: KEY FACTS 


Wolf snakes are nonvenomous but have been known to defend themselves when trapped, and can cause severe damage to skin with their sharp fangs. 
They feed on lizards and frogs, digging their powerful fangs deep into the hard scales of their prey. 
Females can be much larger than males and they often breed prior to the monsoons laying on average four to 11 eggs.  
When fully grown, wolf snakes are thought to reach around 20 inches (50 cm) in length.
The latest Wolf Snake species to be discovered, Lycodon zoosvictoriae, has unusual markings that has helped it remain hidden, despite a decade-long research effort to find new species in Cambodia. 
Most other species of wolf snake are a light shade of brown with white marks, while some have dark purple-tinted brown skin. 
This latest species is light brown with darker brown markers. 
‘The species will probably prove to be endemic to the Cardamom Mountains,’ said herpetologist Neang Thy, who both discovered and described the new species. 
Wolf snakes are nonvenomous, but have been known to defend themselves when trapped, and can cause severe damage to skin with their sharp fangs. 

Wolf snakes are nonvenomous but have been known to defend themselves when trapped, and can cause severe damage to skin with their sharp fangs
Wolf snakes are nonvenomous but have been known to defend themselves when trapped, and can cause severe damage to skin with their sharp fangs

They feed mostly on lizards and sometimes frogs, digging their powerful fangs deep into the hard scales of their prey. 

Females can be much larger than males, and they often breed before the monsoons laying on average four to 11 eggs. 

Three months from now, their eggs will hatch, and the hatchlings are between five and seven inches (14-19 cm) long. 

Most of the Cardamom mountain range is forested, and areas of it remain unexplored by scientists. Researchers claim the latest discovery shows how much remains to be discovered in this region of Cambodia
Most of the Cardamom mountain range is forested, and areas of it remain unexplored by scientists. Researchers claim the latest discovery shows how much remains to be discovered in this region of Cambodia


When fully grown, wolf snakes are thought to reach around 20 inches (50 cm) in length. 

This discovery is the eighth new snake to be found in the Cardamom Mountains since survey work began in 2000 by Zoos Victoria in Melbourne and Fauna and Flora International. 

The Cardamom Mountain range runs across the southern part of Cambodia, from the Thai border in the west, almost to the Vietnamese border in the east. 

Most of it is forested, and areas of it remain unexplored by scientists. 

Researchers claim the latest discovery shows how much remains to be discovered in this region of Cambodia.

The Cardamom Mountain range runs across the southern part of Cambodia, from the Thai border in the west, almost to the Vietnamese border in the east
The Cardamom Mountain range runs across the southern part of Cambodia, from the Thai border in the west, almost to the Vietnamese border in the east




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